VALUES
Learn about the four cornerstone values that will guide Vanessa during her time as Chair of the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee.
INTEGRITY
“I am rooted but I flow.”
― Virginia Woolf
"We should be in constant evolution and adapt to the new without ever losing our essence or our integrity."
― Pedro Capo
Integrity is the natural result of someone moving in alignment with sound ethical principles, no matter who is watching. HCDEC leaders need to be self-aware, accountable, responsible, consistent and transparent to ensure that their actions build relationships and trust. But integrity goes well beyond simply being honest and moral.
The other definition of integrity means the state of being complete, unbroken, or whole. "I am rooted but I flow" is a line from the 1931 Virginia Woolf novel The Waves (it refers to the character Jinny, who is rooted in herself but also flows as part of a whole). The phrase has been interpreted to mean the need for an equilibrium between stability and liberation, and the importance of owning one's truth.
The Hillsborough County Democratic Party has been doing many things right over the years, but there has also been an overall stagnation and a dearth of new ideas. Part of the renewal of the HCDEC will necessitate nurturing deeper connections between and among members, as well as leadership, and emphasizing new growth while still honoring and tending to our roots. Part of that renewal requires deepening connections with the various communities by showing up in their spaces and doing the necessary work.
COMMUNICATION
"To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others."
― Tony Robbins
"The two words 'information' and 'communication' are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different things. Information is giving out; communication is getting through."
― Sydney J. Harris
Communication is vital to leadership because it unifies teams around a shared purpose. Effective leaders inspire and motivate their teams - such as precinct captains, clubs + caucuses, donor class - by clearly detailing their vision and the path to achieve it. Effective communication creates a sense of belonging and purpose, making each team member feel valued and integral to the collective success.
Communicating with clarity, consistency and precision ensures messages are understood without ambiguity. Effective communicators are specific and intentional in their choice of language, ensuring that their messages are easily and fully understood.
Empathy allows communicators to connect with others on an emotional level, fostering trust and understanding. By understanding and addressing the emotions of others, communicative leaders create a collaborative environment and encourage a culture of open and honest dialogue.
Being adaptable in communication allows for effective interaction across different platforms and situations. Good leaders are open to constructive feedback and adjust their communication style based on the audience and context, whether in person, virtually, or in hybrid settings. Good leaders work towards 'win-win' solutions, negotiating their way from confrontation to cooperation.
The HCDEC needs a leader willing and able to have hard conversations, but the guiding principle should be "I seek to understand before being understood.”
INTENTION + VISION
“I like to encourage people to realize that any action is a good action if it's proactive and there is positive intent behind it.”
― Michael J. Fox
"Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world."
― Joel A. Barker
A leader's intentions are their guiding principles and values that help create a unified culture. Leaders with clear intentions are more trustworthy and confident, and are able to stay focused on their purpose. Intention-setting begins with a clear understanding of the desired end state or vision, and effective leaders design and direct the work of their teams in direct correlation to it.
Intentions and goals are not the same thing. Leadership intentions aren't specific targets, but rather the reason behind a leader's choices and actions. It is absolutely possible for an organization like the HCDEC to become so focused on goals that it ignores intentions and obscures vision.
A leader's vision is their desired end state for the organization. A leader's vision should be imaginable, desirable, feasible, focused, flexible, and communicable.
Goals for an organization should only be set after there is a clear understanding of the intent and vision that is being brought to bear by leadership - and that both the intent and the vision have been bought into by the membership at large.
SERVICE
"Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve."
― Martin Luther King, Jr.
"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts."
― Aristotle
"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth."
― Muhammad Ali
"There is no such thing as a self-made man. You will reach your goals only with the help of others."
― George Shinn
"Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for an act of kindness."
― Seneca
A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. The servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.
This trait can extend to listening to followers carefully to better understand their needs, but it also involves leaders holding themselves and others accountable for their words and actions.
Too often we have come to the communities we are supposed to serve and only asked for things: their time, their belief, their vote. The Hillsborough County Democratic Party will be renewed through a dedication to service that is rooted in integrity, that is consciously + intentionally practiced, and that is effectively communicated when we show up for the work.